NET WORTH: Unknown
SOURCE OF WEALTH: Cofounder, Chairman & CEO of Blenheim Capital Management
FUNDING AREAS: Arts & Culture, Education, Health, NYC Community
OVERVIEW: Willem Kooyker and Judith-Ann Corrente conduct their philanthropy through the Monteforte Foundation. Available tax filings indicate that the foundation awarded around $5.1 million in grants in 2018.
The couple is active in civic life, with a focus on New York City, and serve on a number of boards. Arts and culture is a major interest, and Judith serves as president, managing director and chief executive officer of the board of Metropolitan Opera. The couple is also interested in education, health, and more.
BACKGROUND: Willem Kooyker received his B.A. in economics from Baruch College and an MBA in international finance and economics from NYU. He began his trading career with Internatio-Muller in Rotterdam, where he eventually became a managing director of the international trading group. In the early 1980s, he joined Commodities Corporation in Princeton, where he became president. In 1988, Kooyker founded Blenheim Capital Management, and continues as its chairman, CEO, and CIO. Blenheim employs a staff of approximately 50 people in its American offices in New Jersey and New York.
ISSUES:
ARTS & CULTURE: Willem and Judith, through the Monteforte Foundation, have given large sums to arts and culture outfits, particularly in New York City. Judith is particularly active in arts and education work, serving as president, managing director and chief executive officer of the board of Metropolitan Opera. Substantial money has flowed to the Metropolitan Opera, the site of the Judith-Ann Corrente and Willem Kooyker Chair. Other grantees have included Gotham Chamber Opera, Museum of Modern Art, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Manhattan Theatre Club, Asia Society, and Lang Lang International Music Foundation.
EDUCATION: Baruch College, Willem's alma mater, has been a major focus of philanthropy, including the couple's support for the Willem Kooyker Deanship of the Zicklin School of Business. Large sums have also gone to the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, where Judith has been a longtime trustee. Recent money in higher education has also gone to Columbia University, Princeton University (Judith's alma mater), Brown University and Boston College. Kooyker chairs the board of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, whose mission is to "fuel the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships for America’s young people and to close the mentoring gap." Kooyker has been involved with MENTOR since 1993. Money has also gone to Chelsea Day School, Delbarton School, Early Steps, which "provides families of children of color information about the benefits of an independent school education for their children," and Oliver Scholars Program, which "prepares extraordinary African-American and Latino students for success at top independent high schools and prestigious colleges."
HEALTH: Recent support has gone to The Hospital For Special Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, American Cancer Society, and Weill Medical College. The couple appears to have not singled out a particular health cause.
LOOKING FORWARD: Despite being involved with business, Kooyker has been engaged in philanthropy for quite a while. It is unclear how much money is waiting in the wings, but look for the couple to keep supporting its established interest areas. Judith, and her many board memberships, is someone to keep an eye on.
CONTACT:
The Monteforte Foundation does not provide a clear contact method, but below is an address:
The Monteforte Foundation
712 5th Ave., 20th Fl.
New York, NY 10019